The High Court on Monday declared illegal the Election Commission’s (EC) gazette that reduced Bagerhat’s four parliamentary constituencies to three and increased Gazipur’s five constituencies to six.

The HC bench of Justice Sashanka Shekhar Sarkar and Justice Faysal Hasan Arif delivered the verdict after hearing a writ petition challenging the EC’s decision.

The court directed the authorities concerned to reinstate four constituencies for Bagerhat and five for Gazipur.

Barrister Sheikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain appeared for the petitioner, while Deputy Attorney General Barrister Md Mehdi Hasan represented the state.

The writ was filed by Bagerhat Press Club, District Bar Association, District BNP, District Jamaat-e-Islami, and others concerned, opposing the EC’s decision to reduce Bagerhat’s constituencies.

Earlier, on July 30, the EC proposed cutting Bagerhat’s constituencies to three ahead of the 13th parliamentary election. The decision was finalised through a gazette on September 4, prompting widespread criticism.

As per the gazette, the redrawn constituencies were Bagerhat-1 (Sadar-Chitalmari-Mollahat), Bagerhat-2 (Fakirhat-Rampal-Mongla), and Bagerhat-3 (Kachua-Morrelganj-Sarankhola).

The government of Bangladesh, the Chief Election Commissioner, the EC Secretary and the Attorney General were made respondents to the writ.

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Meanwhile, the EC also issued another gazette increasing Gazipur’s constituencies from five to six.

On September 16, the High Court issued a rule asking the government and the EC to explain why the gazette should not be declared illegal and why the reinstatement of four constituencies for Bagerhat should not be ordered.

Ten individuals, including Election Commission officials, were made respondents to the rule.